Acis and Galatea - Handel / Mozart

One of Handel’s most popular dramatic works, this pastoral semi-opera is presented here in the version arranged by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A testament to the exceptional dialogue between two geniuses in the history of music!

Acis and Galatea is one of Handel's major pastoral pieces. Composed in 1718 after Ovid's Metamorphoses, it quickly established itself as one of his most popular dramatic works, combining musical elegance, expressive sensuality, and melancholic depth. In 1788, at the request of Baron van Swieten, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart created an arrangement intended for private concerts in Vienna. This rare and precious version made a lasting contribution to the work’s dissemination and longevity, and stands as a testament to the exceptional dialogue between these two musical geniuses.

Under the direction of Paul Agnew, Les Arts Florissants shed light on this little-known chapter in music history and bring to life the essential connection between two seminal European composers, from the Baroque to so-called “Classical” music. This Acis and Galatea, where Handel’s expressive grace meets Mozart’s classical clarity, thus reveals the timelessness of a work that explores the connections between nature, love, and destiny.